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2008 Mini Cooper S reliability record

NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2008 Mini Cooper S from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.

NHTSA source snapshot · 2026Consumer reports are not verified defects Official source
NHTSA complaints
197
Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
Top problem area
ENGINE
78 complaints
Recalls on record
3
see below
Reported harm
1 reported crash · 3 injuries · 12 fires

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.

Complaint rank

#2,599

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Mini median

-23

median 220 across 19 Mini records

Vs 2006-2010

-75

median 272 complaints in 785 records

Top component share

40%

Engine: 78 complaints

What owners report fails — 2008 Mini Cooper S

  • ENGINE 78
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 36
  • AIR BAGS 30
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8
  • POWER TRAIN 6

3 recalls on record for the 2008 Mini Cooper S

  • NHTSA 23V337000 · 2024 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
  • NHTSA 18V248000 · 2018 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLIN If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
  • NHTSA 12V008000 · 2012 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLIN THE CIRCUIT BOARD MAY SMOLDER WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Look up these campaign numbers at NHTSA.gov →

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2008 Mini Cooper S

Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.

Open TCO calculator

These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2008 Mini Cooper S units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Mini Cooper S reliable?

NHTSA has 197 consumer complaints on record for the 2008 Mini Cooper S and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (78 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2008 Mini Cooper S units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mini Cooper S?

Owners most often report problems with: engine (78), engine and engine cooling (36), air bags (30), electrical system (8). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 2008 Mini Cooper S?

This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2008 Mini Cooper S. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.

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